A trailable narrowboat, a Sea Otter and us

Friday, 10 June 2011 12:00

Sharing locks is a good thing - if there is another narrowboat around and going the same way of course! On our trip today we shared with a Wilderness trail narrowboat.

Gwas y Neidr leaving Froxfield bottom lock

They were from Wales and joined us at Oakhill Down Lock .....

So what does "Gwas y Neidr" mean? Dragonfly - a pretty name for a boat from the Mon and Brec Canal: a canal that is not connected to the main system, so it is an advantage to have a trail boat if you want to cruise on the system.

We cruised the Mon and Brec in the Autumn of 2005 - in a day boat! We stayed at a B and B and explored the area too. It is a lovely canal.

Mon and Brec

There were quite a number of boats on the go and John walked between most of the locks, which meant that we did not have to hang around too long. The three Froxfield Locks are close together but then there is a bit of a gap to Picketfield Lock.

We met narrowboat Lindisfarne at one - we last saw them at Naburn Locks on the River Ouse in Yorkshire last July. We remarked that the weather was better in Yorkshire than it was today!

Lindisfarne, a Sea Otter narrowboat, and Epiphany leaving Naburn Locks

At Cobblers Lock we met "Rachel", another Bruce Trust wide boat; they had plenty of crew, but took their time!

So we were now on the outskirts of Hungerford with Hungerford Marsh Lock and swing bridge ahead of us. As there was a narrowboat moored at the end of the lock landing, I could not get in easily to wait, so we both hung back waiting as two boats came up.

Hungerford Marsh Lock ahead

It turned out that the chap from the moored narrowboat was "in charge" of the swing bridge over the lock. He seemed to be staying behind to make sure it was shut properly! Which it was, by John, once we were down in the lock.

In Hungerford Marsh Lock

At the swing bridge by Hungerford Church we met a large barge - he had just come through, but the bridge had to be shut so John could get across to open and shut it for us!

Hungerford Church swing bridge open

Now there were narrowboats moored up to Hungerford Lock - most on the 24H moorings. One of them had this notice in the window - normally seen on broken paddle gear. I wondered what BW was aware of in this situation! Incidentally, despite encountering broken paddle gear on the K and A we did not see any of these notices anywhere.

Notice in window

There was just space for us to moor at the end of the moorings - we both fitted in perfectly! Later in the afternoon Del and Al caught us up on Derwent 6 and passed down the lock, finding a vacated mooring on the wharf. No doubt we shall see them again, and maybe again!

Moored at Hungerford

We had to pick up a bracelet John had left it to be repaired at the really posh jewellers Furr and Company, north of Hungerford Town Bridge. It is the sort of place that if you have to ask the price you can't afford it! I don't know what they thought of us boaters, but the man who served us opened the door for us when we came to leave!

Kennet and Avon Canal, Little Bedwyn to Hungerford
2 hours 32 minutes, 3.31 miles, 6 locks